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Light Notes

The document discusses light and properties of reflection and mirrors. It describes how light reflects off plain and spherical mirrors and the types of images formed. Key points covered include the laws of reflection, real and virtual images, parameters and uses of concave and convex mirrors.

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thritasingha1981
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6 views

Light Notes

The document discusses light and properties of reflection and mirrors. It describes how light reflects off plain and spherical mirrors and the types of images formed. Key points covered include the laws of reflection, real and virtual images, parameters and uses of concave and convex mirrors.

Uploaded by

thritasingha1981
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Light

Light is a form of energy which helps us to see an object.

Properties of light -
1. Light is an electromagnetic wave. It does not need a medium to travel.

2. Light has a dual nature i.e. wave as well as particle.

3. Light tends to travel in straight line.

4. Speed of light is 3 x 108m/s

Reflection –
There are two laws of reflection –

a) The angle of incidence is equal to angle of reflection. Angle of incidence = Angle of reflection
[∠i=∠r]

Point of incidence

b) The incident ray, the normal at the point of incidence and the reflected ray, all lie in the
same plane.

Image formed by plain mirror -


1. It always form virtual image.
2. Size of image is equal to the size of object.
3. Image is formed behind the mirror.
4. Image distance from the mirror is equal to object distance from the mirror.
5. Image is laterally inverted.
Real image – The image which is formed on the screen is called real image.

Virtual image - The image which cannot be obtained on the screen is called virtual image.

Spherical mirror – A spherical mirror is that mirror whose reflecting surface is the part of a
hollow sphere . They are of two types-

• Convex mirror: In this mirror reflecting surface is convex. It diverges the light so it is also
called a diverging mirror.
• Concave mirror: In this mirror reflecting surface is concave. It converges the light so it is also
called converging mirror.

Parameters of Mirror:

• Center of Curvature (C): The centre of hollow sphere of which mirror is a part.
• The radius of curvature ( R) : The radius of hollow sphere of which mirror is a part.( R=2f)
• Pole ( P) : The centre of mirror (middle point) is pole.
• Principal axis: The line joining the pole and center of curvature is called principal axis.
• Aperture : Size of mirror is called aperture of mirror.
• Principal Focus ( F): The point on the principal axis, where all the incident rays parallel to
principal axis converge or diverge after reflection through mirror.
• Focal Length ( f ) : The distance between pole and focus point is focal length.

Reflection in concave mirror


Reflection in convex mirror -

Relation between radius of curvature and focal length of a spherical mirror

f = R/2

In other words, for spherical mirrors of small apertures , the radius of curvature is found to be

twice the focal length.

R = 2f

Rays to be considered for drawing Ray Diagram

The intersection of at least two reflected rays give the position of the image of the point

object.

Rules to obtain image from concave and convex mirror

1st rule: The incident ray that comes parallel to the principal axis after reflection, passes
through the focus as shown.
2nd rule: The incident ray coming from focus after reflection becomes parallel to the polar

axis.

3rd rule: The incident ray coming through ‘C’ retraces its path.

4th rule: The Incident ray striking at pole by a certain angle is reflected through the
same angle.
Nature and Position of Image Formed by Concave Mirror

Ray diagram for the concave mirror:

1st Case: Object between P & F

2nd Case : Object at F


3rd case: Object between F and C

4th case : Object at C

5th case: Object beyond C

6th case: Object at infinity


Images formed by Convex Mirror

1st Case : Object anywhere at principal axis

2nd case: object at infinity

Uses of concave mirrors


1. Concave mirrors are used in torches, search lights and head lights of vehicles to get parallel
beams of light.

2. They are used as shaving mirrors to see larger image of the face.

3. They are used by dentists to see larger images of the teeth.

4. Large concave mirrors are used to concentrate sunlight to produce heat in solar furnaces.

Uses of Convex mirrors


1.Convex mirrors are used as rear-view mirrors in vehicles. Convex mirrors give erect
diminished images of objects.

2. They also have a wider field of view than plane mirrors.


New Cartesian sign convention for spherical mirrors :-
i) The object is always placed on the left of the mirror and light from the object falls from the
left to the right.

ii) All distances parallel to the principal axis are measured from the pole.

iii) All distances measured to the right of the pole are taken as + ve.

iv) All distances measured to the left of the pole are taken as – ve.

v) The height measured upwards perpendicular to the principal axis is taken as + ve.

vi) The height measured downwards perpendicular to the principal axis is taken as – ve.

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